Facebook

OSF PRESS RELEASE / REGARDING ALEC PROTEST

By Occupy Santa Fe in OCCUPY SANTA FE. NEW MEXICO OPEN GROUP

Occupy Santa Fe Media Working Group Press Release
For Immediate Release: January 26 2012

Approved by Occupy Santa Fe Media Working Group and ALEC Protest Organizers

Wednesday night, Jan.25th at the Eldorado Hotel, Santa Fe the worst of corporate corruption of our democracy reared its ugly head at a meeting of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). This innocent-sounding group drafts, recommends and promotes “Model Legislation” to conservative legislators. Funded by Koch Industries and over 300 corporations, ALEC authors legislation destructive to the working class and environment and which displaces native peoples and contaminates their air, soil, and water.

The Nation reported that ”Hundreds of ALEC’s model bills and resolutions bear traces of Koch DNA: …Of all the Koch’s’ investments in right-wing organizations, ALEC provides some of the best returns:” Those returns are crushing unions, lowering wages for working Americans, wiping out clean water and air regulations, and exploding profits for the already rich. ALEC is the force behind the disastrous Wisconsin and Ohio Union Busting. ALEC presents “Model Bills” and encourages conservative legislators to present them for approval to legislatures.

Occupy Santa Fe protested outside the Eldorado Hotel exposing this reprehensible organization. A very large banner was dropped from a 5th floor balcony of the El Dorado, which read: “ALEC Buys NM Legislators. ALECEXPOSED.ORG 99% Expect Us.”. OSF understands the continuing corruption of our democracy is a matter of shear survival with 146 million Americans at or below the poverty line. A noisy interruption of the ALEC $250 dinner is mild compared to the economic, social, and environmental devastation caused by corporate domination. The global Occupy Movement is loud but has been peaceful from day one and remains so today.

Four women and two men committed to nonviolent civil disobedience interrupted the dinner to hold members accountable for their anti-immigrant, anti-union and anti-environment policies, while Crime Scene tape was dispersed around the tables. Protesters sought to distribute Paper programs parodying ALEC’s agenda. When one was attacked, some programs unintentionally flew from the protester’s hand. The resulting injury was unfortunate, and totally unintended. OSF is glad to hear the victim is recovering. By contrast ALEC members choked two women protesters with their own scarves while simultaneously punching them in the back, one by Representative Kintigh of Roswell. Following them to the sidewalk in front of the restaurant, an ALEC member punched a male protester in the face, and shoved another male protester to the wall in a chokehold. Four security guards from the El Dorado Hotel contained the violent ALEC legislative member. A 68-year-old photographer filed a complaint that night after she was manhandled and injured in an effort to take her camera. ALEC members are attempting to cover up their violent response to the protesters in the El Dorado, deflecting responsibility on protesters, hotel security, and state police. This is a continuation of ALEC’s political maneuvering, one of corruption, dominance, and deceit.

Alec defines itself as a proponent of “Jeffersonian democracy and small government,” but in reality passes state laws to prosecute immigrants, seeks lower taxes on fruit-flavored cigarettes to entice teenage smokers and most recently ALEC sponsored laws in Texas and Louisiana requiring public schools to teach “climate change denial” as a credible theory. We don’t think Jefferson would have been bought by the private prison industry, the tobacco lobby, and the coal company polluter. In fact Jefferson warned against the tyranny of large banks. The aggressive physical response of ALEC members is characteristic of their policies.

Contact:
Media Working Group of Occupy Santa Fe
press@occupysantafenm.org
Jeff Haas 505-469-0714